DEVELOPMENT. 



27 



It is observed that after the eggs are deposited the oviducal openings are everted, 

 tumid, suffused with blood (plate i, fig. 2; cf. also Costa, p. 23, plate 11, andGaimard, 

 plate XX, in Vo}-. en Islande et au Greenland); in fact, the entire anal region is 

 bloodshot, including the fin margins. 



In many instances (August and September) the fish may soon spawn again. 

 This is evident from the mature condition of a pair of ovarian eggs which were 

 found in specimens having tumid oviducal openings. 



RATE OF EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT. 

 The young Chimsera spends the greater part of a year in its capsule, probably 

 not less than nine months, and possibh' as long as twelve. The duration of the 

 younger stages is known with reasonable accuracy. In the following table, show- 

 ing the rate of development of C. colliei, the results are based upon eggs in hatch- 

 ing-cases (water temperature between 50° and 60° F.). 



Table B. — Rate of Embryonic Devcloj<ment. 



*A reexamination of the writer's collecting notes leads him to estimate that fertilization takes place 

 in about two days. This time has therefore been added in assigning ages to the various stages. 



tThese figures are based upon notes given by the fislierman Ah Tack, recording months when eggs were 

 placed in the hatching-cases. If these are accurate, and I believe tliey are reasonably so, Chimiera does not 

 differ uotably from a shark in its rate of later embryonic growtli. 



THE EGG. 



The egg of C. collici measures in its capsule about 2.9 b_v 1.9 by 1.3 cm. 

 (average). It is inclosed in a delicate vitellina ; when this is ruptured, the egg breaks 

 into a syrup}' mass, ver}- much as the egg of a typical selachian. Especially 

 soft is the egg about the time of its passage into the oviduct. At such a stage 



